The team will debut with the new RTL Electric and Miquel Gelabert as a driver in the intermediate category.
Honda Montesa expands its presence in the world of trials with a new project in Trial2, incorporating an electric motorcycle into its structure for the first time. The team with the golden wing, with a long history of success in the discipline, will compete with the new RTL Electric, a model designed to face combustion motorcycles on equal terms.
To lead this ambitious project, the team will have Miquel Gelabert, a 27-year-old rider with a solid track record in the discipline. Gelabert was European champion in 2016, demonstrating his talent and determination in every competition. His experience and skills will be key to taking RTL Electric to the top.
This project has its roots in the development started last season in the Japanese Championship. The RTL Electric debuted in the sixth round of the year achieving three victories in the three rounds in which it participated. Honda has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality in all its products and corporate activities by 2050, and specifically in two-wheelers from 2040. As part of the company’s environmental strategy, they are promoting the electrification of their motorcycles.
The goal of the new “Honda Montesa” team for 2025 is to clinch the Trial 2 title and accelerate the development of electric vehicles to a high level. The introduction of the RTL Electric represents a technological breakthrough in the discipline, as the brand with the golden wing will take on the challenge of electrifying trial, thus promoting further technological evolution. Its official debut will be at the first round of the season, on April 5 and 6 in Benahavís (Spain), where the Honda Montesa electric bike will face its first major challenge in a highly demanding scenario.
* Official HONDA statement
This is the Honda RTL Electric
THE TEAM
Honda has prepared a top-level, very experienced team to make this first year of the HONDA RTL a success, and not only in terms of sport, but also that the project collects all the necessary information to boost the Honda RTL to be a bike with the capacity to aspire to the title in the top category before 2030.
It is very possible that in two or three years this idea of reaching the top flight will be a reality, even with Toni Bou at the controls. To do this, it will be decisive to see how the project evolves in 2025 and to understand the real potential of the bike.
The team will be made up of Carles Barneda, who has been a backpacker for both Fujinami and Toni Bou, Ramón Peracaula, former backpacker and mechanic of Sondre Haga with the electric GASGAS, Alex Solá, former backpacker of Jaime Busto.
THE PILOT
Miquel Gelabert, will be in charge of making this bike debut in the Trial World Championship
Miquel Gelabert 256
“I am very grateful to Honda for trusting me for this new project. It is an honor to be part of a brand with so much history and to surround myself with great professionals within the Honda Montesa. The RTL Electric is an innovative bike and its development has been incredible. We know that the challenge will be very demanding, but we are working hard to be competitive from the first test.”
THE BIKE: HONDA RTL ELECTRIC
The Honda RTL ELECTRIC is being developed as a superior electric trials bike to the factory Montesa COTA 4RT . This bike has contributed to Toni Bou achieving an unprecedented record of 18 consecutive titles in the Trial World Championship.
As for the power unit, the HONDA RTL ELECTRIC is equipped with the HONDA CR ELECTRIC PROTO electric motocross bike battery, optimized for trial use. The motor is integrated with an inverter. Honda is looking to achieve high performance with a view to a future participation in the Trial World Championship. In addition, the HONDA RTL ELECTRIC has a clutch, flywheel and transmission, essential elements for trials.
The chassis has been developed from the ground up, based on the double aluminium tube, a design with a proven track record in Honda’s RTL series of racing trials bikes. Its rigidity has been optimised to improve driving stability and reduce weight. The swingarm has also been developed on the basis of the RTL series, further contributing to weight reduction. In addition, the arrangement of the electrical components has been optimised to place the centre of gravity in an ideal position for trials, with the aim of achieving intuitive manoeuvrability.
Power unit
- Battery: High-performance battery developed with the knowledge of the CR ELECTRIC PROTO.
- Motor: Integrated with an inverter, designed to deliver high power and speed.
- Clutch: Equipped with clutch, flywheel and transmission.
Chassis
- Structure: Optimized rigidity to improve stability and reduce weight.
- Swingarm: Developed with a lighter design, optimized for suspension.
- Distribution: Optimized center of gravity through the strategic placement of electrical components.
